image he sits in the chair across from me. "you look healthy," he says in a voice that is almost disappointed. "I've given up beer and I drink only 3 bottles of white German wine each night," I tell him. "are you going to let your readers know you've reformed?" he asks. he walks to the refrigerator and opens the door. "all these vitamins!" "thiamine-hcl," I say, "b-2, choline, b-6, folic acid, zinc, e, b-12, niacin, calcium magnesium, a-e complex, papa... and 3 bottles of white German wine each night." "what's this stuff in the jars on the sink?" he asks. "herbs," I tell him, "goldenseal, sweet basil, alfalfa mind, mu, lemongrass, rose hips, papaya, gotu kola, clover, comfrey, fenugreek, sassafras and chamomile... and I drink only spring water, mineral water and my 3 bottles of white German wine." "are you going to tell your readers about all this?" he asks again. "should I tell them?" I ask. "should I tell them that I no longer eat anything that walks on 4 legs?" "that's what I mean," he says. "people think you are a tough guy!" "oh?" I say. "and what about your image?" he asks. "people don't expect you to live like this." "I know," I say, "I've lost my beer-gut. I've come down from a size 44 to a size 38, and I've lost 31 pounds." "I mean," he continues, "we all thought you were a man walking carelessly and bravely to his death, foolishly but with style, like Don Quixote and the windmills... all that." "we just won't tell anybody," I answer, "and maybe we can save my image or at least prolong it." "you'll be turning to God next," he says. "my god," I say, "is those 3 bottles of white German wine." "I'm disappointed in you," he says. "I still fuck," I reply, "and I still play the horses and I go to the boxing matches and I still love my daughter and I even love my present girlfriend. not that much has changed." "all right," he says, "we'll keep it quiet. can you give me a ride back to my place? my car is in the shop." "all right," I say, "I also still drive my car." I lock the door and we walk up the street to where I'm parked now.